Instilling Change: Mario Arredondo

Before incarceration, Mario Arredondo led a seemingly normal life. He worked as an over-the-road truck driver, enjoying his 2-week vacations with his wife and spending time with family. Mario grew up in a supportive family. His parents were foster parents, and he attended church regularly. He was blessed with a spiritual support system which played a role in how much Mario enjoyed his married life and extended family. With this strong family model, Mario naturally became a family man as an adult.

In the year 2009, however, Mario was incarcerated due to poor choices. It was then that he vowed to become a better and more aware individual when he was done serving time. He chose to take every program he could while incarcerated to learn from his mistakes and become a better, more educated, and well-rounded individual. Mario enrolled in anger management and conflict resolution classes, as well as “Impact Crime on Victims”, “Impacted Criminal Thinking”, “Pathways to Change”, and “Journey from Within.” He was well on his way to self-improvement, but he didn’t stop there.

In 2019, Mario was given the opportunity to engage in a new DOC (Department of Corrections) program to earn a college degree with Ashland University. Mario said this was what he needed to catapult his mind and soul into permanent change. By 2022, he had graduated with a 3.7 GPA and the highest honors. He received a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a double minor in business administration and business management.

Mario was released in the Fall of 2023. His biggest barriers after incarceration were obtaining necessary documentation including a state ID, a birth certificate, and getting a legal name change. Once that was taken care of, Mario was able to work on his goals and new job opportunities. He joined a work therapy program that reintroduced him to the 8-hour work week. He obtained a transitional residence which provided a support system and helped him mentally leave prison behind.

It was Mario’s parole officer who suggested he contact Second Chance for support, and from there the sky was the limit. He attended a “Welcome Back” event which solidified his decision to stick with the Second Chance program. Mario felt like the staff at Second Chance was inspiring and made his transition easy, one of whom was a veteran like himself and shined a light in some dark spaces of his past. Able to connect with his Resource Specialist soon after, Mario was guided through preparation and testing for his CDL (Commercial Driver License) and as well as the many obstacles life can sometimes throw at you. His Resource Specialist walked him through these obstacles and prepared him for potential rejection, while remaining steadfast on the opportunity that would be ahead of him. In addition, Second Chance assisted him with groceries from the food pantry which kept his expenses low, making it possible for him to purchase a vehicle.

Mario feels one of the most important components of Second Chance included the classes he was offered. Peer Support and Conflict Resolution classes helped him to connect with others facing the same barriers. The Healthy Relationship groups assisted with navigating different relationship dynamics. Knowing that other people understood what he was going through helped him realize that he can and will succeed.

Mario will be off Parole October 17th, 2024. He is most proud of obtaining his CDL and being back in the workflow. When asked what advice he would give someone in a similar situation, he said it is important to be honest with those who show up to help. Your Resource Specialist wants to assist with making sure you improve your life during the reentry process. The more open you are, the better chance you have of getting what you need for your future self.